Locomotive-headlight signaling apparatus.



No. 741,760. PATENTED OCT. 20, 1903.

W. S. BLACKBURN. Y LOCOMOTIVE lHEADLIGI-IT SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented October 20, 1993.

t PATENT OFFICE.

LoCoMoTlvE-HEADUG HT slcNALlNc APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettere- Patent No. 741,760, dated October20, 1903.

Application filed June 26,1903. Serial No. 163,169. (No model.) I

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WARREN S. BLACK- BURN, of Dumbarton, in the countyof Henrico and State/of Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Locomotive-Headlight Signaling Apparatus; and I herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which :formpart of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in locomotive-headlight signalingapparatus; and it consists in a novel attachment forlocomotive-headlights whereby the latter may be used as a signal-lightin approaching blockstations or on sidings and whereby also the lightmay be blinded when the locomotive is standing on a side track, so asnot to obscure adjacent signal-lights. The attachment consists of acasing containing a retractable curtain which can be drawn partially orwholly over the headlight and withdrawn at the willA of the engineer, sothat by properly manipulating the curtain the desired signals may begiven.

The invention also comprises novel means for cleaning theheadlight-glass bythe manipulation of the curtain.

The invention therefore consists in the,

novel construction and arrangement of parte hereinafter described andclaimed, and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure l is a sideelevation of the apparatus as applied to a locomotive-headlight. Fig. 2is a front view of Fig. 1. enlarged top view partly in section. Fig. 4:is a view of the attachment detached, and Fig. 5 is a detail section ofthe cleaner.

In said drawings, A designates a locomotive-headlight (which may be ofany ordinary Well-known construction and needs no particulardescription) which is mounted on the locomotive in the usual Way.

B designates a casing which is of a size to surround the headlight Aand' is preferably slipped thereover and supported on the headlight baseor stand in any convenient way and is secured by hooks C or other`suitable fastenings, so that it will remain securely in position aroundthe headlight. It may have top anges Z), which rest upon the top of theheadlight and cover the space between the `tive parts within the casing.

Fig. 3 is an headlight and casing and protect the opera- The front ofthe casing may be provided with a large door B', suitably hinged andfastened to permit ready access tothe front of the headlight forcleaning or repairing it without having to remove the casing. In thefront of the casing is an opening d, of approximately the same size asthe headlight-glass, said opening being protected by a hood-flange D topartly prevent cinders, rain, dac., entering the casing. On the sides ofthe casing are doors E, provided with suitable fastenings and throughwhich access can be had to the headlight-decreto facilitate placing andlighting the headlight-lamp and alsoto facilitate adjustment or repairsof the working parts of the signaling apparatus. In some cases thecasing may be built with4 the headlight and form part thereof, as isobvious. In other Words, the signaling-apparatus may be built within oras a part of the headlight.

The signaling apparatus comprises a curtain F, which is guided oververtical bars or rollers G g at the front corners of and within casingB, as shown. The rear edge of curtain F is preferably stiened by a rodor bar f, which is connected to a retracting spring or springs. As shownin Fig. 3, I connect this bar to rubber bands H, which may pass outthrough apertures bin the rear wall of the casing and be attached toauadjacent fixed point on the locomotive, or they may be carried arounda roller or bar J in one rear corner of the casing and then be attachedto the casing at the opposite rear corner thereof, so

that the springs work across the rear of the casing. Instead of rubberbands H, coiled springs I might be used, as indicated in Fig. 3. Byarranging the springs within the rear of the casing they are protectedfrom the weather, and the apparatus Will be more sightly.

The front edge of the curtain F is attached to a vertical bar K, whichacts as a stop to prevent the curtain being drawn too far in eitherdirection, bar K being arrested by the rollersG g, or other suitablemeans may be used to regulate the travel of the curtain. Attached to theinner side of bar K is a rubber or cleaner 7c, of felt, sponge, or othersuitable material, which as the curtain is moved IOC Awill cleanse theface of the headlight-glass a,

and by manipulating the curtain rapidly two or three times theheadlight-glass may be cleaned whenever it becomes fouled with smoke,rain, &c., without the fireman or engineer having to climb out of thecab to do so, and this cleaner is an important feature of the invention.The cleaner also serves to make the signals more clean-cut by holdingthe curtain closely to the glass. For instance, in displaying ahalf-obscured light the signal will be much more clearly defined byreason of the bar and rubber than would a looselyitting curtain edge.

The bar K is connected to a cord or cords L, which may pass out throughapertures b in the rear of the casing, (see Fig. 3,) being guided aroundroller G when the curtain is retracted, or the cords may pass out of theside of the casing through apertures 192 and around pulleys b3 on theside of casing. (See Fig. 4.) In either case the cords are led back tothe cab in position to be manipulated by the engineer, who by pullingthe cords can draw the curtain across the headlight, and on releasingthe cords the springs will retract the curtain. Thus the apparatus canbe manipulated to give the desired signals, to cleanse the glass, or toobscure the headlight at the will of the engineer.

Having thus described myinvention, what I therefore claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. In alocomotive-headlightsignaling apparatus, the combination of acasing, verticallydisposed curtain-guides at the front corners thereof,a curtain, springs for retracting said curtain, a bar attached to thefront end of the curtain, draw-cords attached to said bar and passingback to the cab, and a cleaner attached to said bar, substantially asdescribed.

2. In combination, a headlight, vertical guides at the opposite frontcorners thereof, a curtain guided thereby, bars attached to the frontand rear ends of the curtain, contractile springs attached to the rearbar and to a fixed part of the casing in rear of the headlight, acleaner attached to the front bar,

scribed.

4. In combination with a locomotive-headlight, a cleaner for the glassthereof; means for moving the cleaner across the front of the glassoperative from the engine-cab; and means for retracting the cleaner,substantially as described.

5. In combination with the headlight,a casing around the same,curtain-guides in the front corners of the casing, a curtain guidedthereby, a bar attached to the front end of curtain, a cleaner attachedto said bar, drawcords attached to said bar, and retractile springsarranged within the rear part of the casing, and attached to the rearend of the curtain and to a fixed point, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a locomotive-headlight, a casing exteriorthereto, provided with a front opening,vertical curtain-guides in thefront corners of the casing, a curtain guided thereover, springs securedwithin and extending across the rear of the casing, connections betweensaid springs and rear edge of curtain, a bar attached to the front edgeof curtain, a cleaner attached to said bar, and Y draw-cords attachedtosaid bar and extending out of the case to the cab, all substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afx" my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

WARREN S. BLACKBURN.

In presence of- HoRAcE A. HAWKINS, GEORGE D. WISE.

